Treatment of the sick on Explorer of the Seas

[wjh81]

This may be a stupid question, but having had neither, is it possible for them to confuse seasickness with noro? I would hate to get seasick and quarantined!

 

I have not had seasickness, but noro causes you to be on the toilet and have a bucket and use both simultaneously.

[Robin7]

This may be a stupid question, but having had neither, is it possible for them to confuse seasickness with noro? I would hate to get seasick and quarantined!

 

I have been seasick numerous times on small boats and have never had diarrhea. Only unending vomiting. Seasickness is not fun, but it is BETTER than 'the walk' (which is what RCI bus drivers--my son was one--call Norovirus, short for Norwalk-like virus).

 

Robin

[DrD]

I have not had seasickness, but noro causes you to be on the toilet and have a bucket and use both simultaneously.

 

When I first learned about this in med school the notes called it the "2 bucket disease."

 

I had no idea what that meant until I got it. Then it was abundantly clear.

[chloe812]

Really?? I have been cruising since the 80's. This stuff never used to happen. It is just in the recent years that you hear of this and it is getting more and more common. The cruise lines have cut back on everything. When you have thousands of people confined to a ship there are going to be germs and Yes, it is the cruise line's responsibility to prevent these germs from spreading around all over the place. Have servers at the buffets, disinfect more often, do what ever it takes to keep your customers safe and happy.

 

You know, Noro has been hitting ships since the early 90's... The reports seem to increase every year but I think a lot of that is due to the increase in the number ships in the industry. Most cruise lines have grown significantly since the early 90's... The other reason I think is due to passengers not alerting medical to their issues and "taking care" of themselves. Yes, you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself however it isn't just about YOU.. There are many other fellow passengers you need to take into consideration.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

[hellsop]

As another poster pointed out, that's because this was a child. They do not take adults' cards.

 

And as I pointed out... What difference does it make if he was a child? The took the card. They had no reason to.

 

Beats shackling him to the bed, I suppose.

 

But next question: What did taking away the seapass actually deprive the kid of, that he would have otherwise be allowed to do while quarantined? I can't think of a darned thing, other that the opportunity to sneak out and do something he wasn't supposed to be doing.

[time4u2go]

Beats shackling him to the bed, I suppose.

 

But next question: What did taking away the seapass actually deprive the kid of, that he would have otherwise be allowed to do while quarantined? I can't think of a darned thing, other that the opportunity to sneak out and do something he wasn't supposed to be doing.

It prevented him from leaving the ship, at a port. Not sure why it would be taken away for that reason, but that is one thing it would have prevented him from doing. Also playing in the arcade. At least with money on his card. Also things like rock climbing, ice skating, etc., where one must show/scan their card.

 

But if you meant while in his room, there's probably nothing he could do with his card.

Edited January 27, 2014 by time4u2go

[hellsop]

Seriously? You obviously dont know how a virus works :)

 

First of all, "these things" dont break out "every other cruise". Where did you get that info from? :confused:

 

If you're the sort prone to worrying, that's an impression one count get. Cruise Junkie shows it more like "CDC-reportable incident about once a week". And there's a lot of ships out there...

[hellsop]

It prevented him from leaving the ship, at a port. Not sure why it would be taken away for that reason, but that is one thing it would have prevented him from doing. Also playing in the arcade. At least with money on his card. Also things like rock climbing, ice skating, etc., where one must show/scan their card.

 

All stuff he is *not* supposed to be doing while quarantined. He's supposed to be in his cabin until it's clear that he's NOT suffering from something communicable.

 

Edit: I see you got my point while I was replying.

Edited January 27, 2014 by hellsop
Following up responder's edit.

[hellsop]

I guess the only answer is to stay away from buffet lines altogether.

 

Main dining room breakfast is very nice.... ;)

[time4u2go]

All stuff he is *not* supposed to be doing while quarantined. He's supposed to be in his cabin until it's clear that he's NOT suffering from something communicable.

Oh I agree, he's not supposed to leave, but I guess with kids, maybe the cruise line feels that if they take away the opportunity to do some of the fun things, the kid will be more likely to stay put. Just a thought.

 

Edit: Yes, I got your point!

Edited January 27, 2014 by time4u2go

[Dawniepoo]

 

Seriously though wonder why the attack rate is so much lower amongst crew, who are more tightly housed than passengers. Younger average age?

 

This would make a great research project. I am so on it!:D

[hellsop]

Oh I agree, he's not supposed to leave, but I guess with kids, maybe the cruise line feels that if they take away the opportunity to do some of the fun things, the kid will be more likely to stay put. Just a thought.

 

'Zactly. And kids have short attention spans. The impulse to sneak out diminishes a lot, knowing that he can't do a darned thing out there, not even get back in without parents knowing he snuck out... Taking the card is an EXCELLENT way to make a 7-year-old know that this is serious and complaining "I'm bored!" until someone relents won't fix it. Were I his parent, I'd welcome the excuse to say "It's out of my hands; cope with it until you get your card back tomorrow. And don't eat so much pizza in the future.

[hellsop]

This would make a great research project. I am so on it!:D

 

Knowing they can get disciplined or fired for not washing their hands, maybe? Focuses the attention pretty sharply....

[squadron]

Nowhere in the review does it say that they kept the child's card. The nurse probably took it, took the info off it and then returned it. Just like they do any time you access a for fee service on a ship.

 

All this fuss because parents let a 7 yr old indulge in too much "junk"! Was he roaming around with no supervision in the buffet or did the parent not say "no" to some of the food choices? Now upset with the result.

[akuperman]

Just wondering what can you do with the OBC offered as the compensation during the remainder of this "puke cruise to nowhere and back". It was posted on one of the threads that it is non-refundable, can somebody actually "cash it out" in a casino?

[A&L_Ont]

When I first learned about this in med school the notes called it the "2 bucket disease."

 

I had no idea what that meant until I got it. Then it was abundantly clear.

 

Dr D, I have a name for it that is also quite fitting. Mass Evacuation.

[WetToes]

Ha! Very fitting.

[Sherlock43031]

these thing always turn into black helicopters and the sky is falling..

 

my first question about the kid is why the parents would allow the kid to stuff his face with endless pizza and finish up with multiple deserts?

 

the reason the crew has a much lower infection rate is probably the same reason hospital staff are rarely sick.. they know how to wash their hands!

 

as for the current outbreak.. 600+ in a couple of days doesn't pass the smell test something in the terminal or on that ship didn't get cleaned correctly.

[antsnanny]

It is not rude to not reported. My husband remained in bed until he felt better and until the symptoms subsided. It was is choice... He didn't spread disease to anyone and most of all he was not kept prisoner until the cruise staff decided he was "free to go".

 

How do you know he did not spread disease. What about his sheets, there infected. Did you ask someone to change them and take extra precautions. Your making up your own rules on the spread of germs to fit your own needs and in doing that you more than likely did infect another person!

[antsnanny]

What a load of crap.

 

It´s not the cruise line not being clean, it´s mostly those paying passengers that spread noro:rolleyes:. The cruise line can do as much cleaning they wish and they actually do, but there´s no way to prevent noro with passengers coming and going. Quarantining passengers is the only and best way to help to prevent spreading.

BTW you and your husband are one of the reasons noro is spreading around. Not reporting noro and "handling it yourself" is the worst Thing you can do and a sure matter of spreading it around.

You say you didn´t Report, kept in your cabin and didn´t spread it - well how do you know? You have no idea how many People you infected by getting out of your cabin maybe too early while still contagious and as you didn´t Report it, you put your cabin attendant at risk infecting him/herself when cleaning your cabin, not knowing there´s noro around and taking extra precautions. If the cabin attendant didn´t know he could have easily spread it from your cabin to all cabins in his area as well.

 

To answer your original question, with your attitude I would say do all of us a Service by cancelling your cruise and stop cruising alltogether. It will make it safer for all of us.

 

Fortunately your next cruise is in your signature so easy for me to avoid.

 

DITTO ! Well said! I will take a look at the signature line as well!

[antsnanny]

This made the front page of CNN.com *surprise surprise* :rolleyes:

 

"Vacations gone wrong" in big bold letters. What they fail to mention is that this illness happens on land too, it's just not required to be reported. Smh.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/26/travel/cruise-ship-illness/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

The news is never right about this stuff either. Last night on the radio, I heard them talking about the Explorer and he actually told people if there cruising don't use ice or drink water! OMG..

[allentownahoy]

Just wondering what can you do with the OBC offered as the compensation during the remainder of this "puke cruise to nowhere and back". It was posted on one of the threads that it is non-refundable, can somebody actually "cash it out" in a casino?

 

Again, I am on the cruise. The $400 is refundable in cash or to your credit card.

[vickila]

What type of cruise credit is being offered? Are folks happy with offer? V.

[SPacificbound]

I was taken very ill with a GI illness aboard the Adventure back in September. I, for one, was glad to be quarantined for 48 hours. I would hate to think that my selfishness resulted in anyone else's holiday being impacted upon.

Royal Caribbean's medical staff, room steward, and room service were absolutely first class. Their concern and compassion made the whole event more bearable.

 

I went through this at Lake Tahoe. The absolutely only thing I wanted to do was stop going to the bathroom, and go to sleep.

[scar4711]

'Zactly. And kids have short attention spans. The impulse to sneak out diminishes a lot, knowing that he can't do a darned thing out there, not even get back in without parents knowing he snuck out... Taking the card is an EXCELLENT way to make a 7-year-old know that this is serious and complaining "I'm bored!" until someone relents won't fix it. Were I his parent, I'd welcome the excuse to say "It's out of my hands; cope with it until you get your card back tomorrow. And don't eat so much pizza in the future.

 

Just more of today's stupid entitilement generation.. it's all about me..

whatever..